A Tribute to Liz Gill

By Matt Everatt

Istill cannot quite believe I am writing this eulogy for Liz, she unexpectedly passed away on the 3rd of September 2021. I first me Liz in 1992, I was a spotty 17 year old looking for a work placement in a Dental Lab. I was invited into the

Maxillofacial & Orthodontic Lab at

Rotherham General Hospital (RGH) with open arms. Liz’s enthusiasm for the profession was infectious. Liz had been in the department at RGH since it opened in the 80’s and had undertaken some incredible Maxillofacial and

Orthodontic cases in her time. Liz was a keen photographer and she had catalogued so many of the cases she had been involved with. This was incredible for learning, even if they were a little gory to a young lad learning the ropes.

Liz had started her career as a Dental Technician at Charles Clifford Dental Hospital in Sheffield in 1976 when she met her husband Andy, also a dental technician. She had also spent time teaching at Sheffield College and moved onto working with Chris Maryan in the Maxillofacial Laboratory at Fulwood Hospital in Sheffield. I have been privy to many stories from Chris and Liz over the years, which I will fondly remember.

Liz was always very encouraging to me as a student and always got me involved in seeing patients. I distinctly remember two occasions in my early career where she thought it was important for me to see and be part of.

The first one was my first visit to the Hospital Theatres. Liz was going to be doing the photographs for the Maxillofacial surgeon Mr McAndrew, he was an old school type surgeon who had great respect for Liz. I got my scrubs on and Liz helped me to a front row of the operation. The operation was going to be a full day, the patient had a large oral cancer that required a hemi-maxillectomy, orbital floor and involved losing an eye. The operation began and Liz, must have spotted that I had turned white and my scrubs looked like I had been hosed down, I was sweating profusely. She very professionally tapped me on the shoulder and helped me out of the theatre. It turns out that my first experience was indeed quite a traumatic operation to watch, but she looked out for me.

The second experience that she thought was important for me to be involved in was to see the same patient at a post-surgery appointment to clean his surgical dressing and alter his obturator to help with his rehabilitation. Liz said to me that she loved doing a ‘spot of gardening’, referring to the procedure as a ‘spot of gardening’ seemed so much nicer that what followed. Another difficult one for me, but so important for me to experience. Liz was so incredibly empathetic with the patient and his wife and had such a great rapport during such a difficult time.

Shortly after I started at RGH in 1994 Liz fell pregnant with her son David, who I still cannot believe is now in his late 20’s! I was delighted when she returned from her maternity leave, she was able to pick up the prosthetic cases that I was not so great at doing! Liz’s eye for aesthetics was incredible and her prosthetic work was always amazing, something I could never replicate and probably why I went into Orthodontics!!!

Liz was always supportive and really helped me through the years, certainly helping me develop my own career. Liz, worked for many years on her PhD, an incredible achievement giving her the title of Doctor, one that she rarely used. In 2008 Liz went onto to work at Manchester Metropolitan University where she worked until retiring just a couple of years ago. I know many of the students spoke so highly of Liz and I can imagine she would have been so enthusiastic about teaching them all. In between studying, teaching and family life Liz managed to squeeze in some charity work in Bangladesh. She organised the trip 3 times in total, taking several Uni students with her they helped rehabilitate many patients including those suffering burns, cleft lips and palates.

I will always remember Liz being a very kind and very talented lady, with an eye for great photography and aesthetics and was a very good painter too. She always wanted people to do well and was always encouraging people to be the best version of themselves. Liz you will be dearly missed by your friends and family and you are a great loss to the profession in which you served so well over the years.

Many of you sent your condolences in the DTGB group which I passed onto David, Liz’s son, he was so grateful for all of the kind messages. I am sure you will all join me in raising a toast to Liz and for all of her fantastic work with students, colleagues and patients over the years. I send my heartfelt sympathies to David and Andy (Husband). Such a sad and sudden loss, may you rest in eternal peace Liz.

Some of the condolences received in the DTGB group